American Studies 341 - SYMPOSIUM IN AMERICAN STUDIES

Topics course. Limited to senior majors. Where does "the public" lie in American society?What is the role of culture in shaping our sense of public life and its political possibilities? This seminar examines the concept of the "public sphere" and consider the ways in which we can use this concept to understand key aspects of American culture and society. The public sphere can be understood as a cornerstone of modern democracy; it is, ideally, the sphere in which we engage in debate over the values and practices that should govern our collective life. Yet, the public sphere can also be a mechanism for excluding certain people from participation in the shared culture or politics of the nation, or silencing certain voices or forms of expression. Reading a mix of theoretical and historical works, we reflect on such topics as the role of media and popular culture in creating a sense of public participation, the relationship between public life and consumer capitalism, conflicts surrounding the public expression of sexuality, and the importance of cities to the modern experience of what it means to be in public.

Topic: Culture, Politics and the Public Sphere. Instructor permission. Limited to AMS majors Limited to seniors